Boy Bye! Donald Trump Claims He Doesn’t Know Much About The KKK And David Duke, Later Backpedals

Critics clapback saying that Americans deserve a president who isn't afraid to condemn white supremacists and hate groups.

Republican Presidential frontrunner Donald Trump put his foot in his mouth Sunday morning on CNN’s “State Of The Union” when asked about distancing himself from KKK endorsements.

When the show’s host Jake Tapper questioned if Trump would “disavow” recent backing from well-known former Grand Wizard of the KKK and politician David Duke, Trump replied: “Just so you understand, I don’t know anything about David Duke, OK?”

He added, “I don’t know anything about what you’re even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists. So I don’t know. I don’t know — did he endorse me, or what’s going on? Because I know nothing about David Duke; I know nothing about white supremacists,” he said.

Tapper continued to press this issue and not once did Trump mention the word “KKK” in his answers CNN noted. Trump continued to act ignorant about these hate groups and their existence.

“Well, I have to look at the group. I don’t know what group you’re talking about. You wouldn’t want me to condemn a group that I know nothing about. I’d have to look. If you would send me a list of the groups, I will do research on them and certainly I would disavow if I thought there was something wrong,” he said when asked a second time.

MmmmmmK. If a man running to be the next President of the United States needs to Google the KKK in order to have a better understanding of who they are and what they represent, Houston we have a serious problem.

Trump’s playing dumb routine came a few days after Duke took his own Facebook page publicizing his support for the Republican candidate. He praised Trump for his stances on immigration, breaking up “Jewish dominated lobbies and super PACS that are corrupting and controlling American politics,” and ensuring “that White-Americans are allowed to preserve and promote their heritage and interests just as all other groups are allowed to do.”

Sigh.

Clearly, Trump’s big misstep welcomed plenty of backlash, especially from his opponents. Mark Rubio, said these remarks make Trump “unelectable” and that Republicans “cannot be the party that nominates someone who refuses to condemn white supremacists and the Ku Klux Klan.” In addition, Ted Cruz and John Kasichchimed in on Twitter.

It’s unclear as to who Trump is trying to fool, given how often the media reports on his campaign being tied to white supremacist support, the Huffington Posts points out. Clearly, his team is aware. Not to mention, Trump is also lying about not knowing who is Duke is and Duke’s support for him. Last August, a NBC News article quoted Trump saying, “I don’t need [Duke’s] endorsement, I certainly wouldn’t want his endorsement, I don’t need anybody’s endorsement.” And then there’s this tidbit:

Why couldn’t he just said that when asked on CNN? Why is rejecting the KKK so hard for Trump, but easier for other Republicans? Simple: Given the racist and xenophobic campaign Trump’s been running from day one, to denounce hate would only anger his base. And we all know he cannot afford to make them mad.